It’s joy for Jordan at St Andrews

CHESHIRE’S Matthew Jordan had been threatening all season and finally pulled off the biggest win of his career with victory in the St Andrews Links Trophy in Scotland.

The 21-year-old from the England Golf A Squad had four sub-par rounds and finished on 11-under, one shot ahead of Ireland’s John Ross Galbraith.

The Royal Liverpool player realised the magnitude of his win when he came off the Old Course at St Andrews to see his grandparents. “My grandma was just made up, it was great to see the joy in their faces, their happiness,” he said.

“This is my first really big win. It’s brilliant, but hard to describe the feeling, it’s unique and I just want to try and savour it.”

Jordan (image Leaderboard Photograph) began making a name for himself last season when his performances played him into the England A Squad.

This year he’s continued the form, with seventh place in the Lytham Trophy, fourth in the Irish, fifth in the Brabazon Trophy, runner-up in last week’s Scottish men’s open – and now the winner of a major amateur title.

“It’s not one thing that I’ve done. I did well last year to get into squads and it’s just carried on from there,” he said. “The next step is trying to believe you can win and having confidence and belief in yourself.”

Jordan was under par in every round at the St Andrews Links Trophy, opening with two-under 70 on the Jubilee Course and adding 68 69 70 on the Old Course. He was tied for the lead at the start of the final round and quickly forged ahead, playing the first 12 holes in five under par.

When he reached the 17th he knew he had a four-shot lead and he chose the conservative option, deliberately avoiding disaster on the Road Hole, and playing smart golf to finish bogey, bogey.

Behind him the challengers were jostling for position, but none could catch him.

Jordan is England’s first winner in this championship since Hampshire’s Neil Raymond in 2013.